Francis T. "Mickey" Featherstone (born September 2, 1948) is a former Irish American mobster and member of the Westies, an organized crime syndicate from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan in New York City, led by James Coonan. Featherstone committed several mob killings before he was convicted in 1986 of a murder he had not committed. Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an informant and brought down Coonan's gang.
Featherstone was born on West 43rd St.,[1] one of nine children.[2] His mother helped with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and his father was a United States Customs Service officer.[2] He had blond hair and was often said to be baby-faced.[1] He served in the Vietnam War as member of the Green Berets aged just 17 after lying about his age.[1] He served in heavy combat and then as a stock clerk.[3] To his disappointment, he was pulled from combat duty, he was involved in criminal mischief with his friends and was disciplined for many drunken pranks.[3][4] He received a medical discharge in 1967 after just a year, claiming to have hallucinations.[1][2]
Return to Hell's Kitchen
When a group from New Jersey, called the Riley brothers, entered Hell's Kitchen a fight started with the outsiders. Featherstone returned with a rifle and shot one of the brothers John Riley in the arm, for which he was arrested and probationed.[2] After borrowing Coonan's gun, he shot dead Linwood Willis in a confrontation outside a bar in 1971, but was found not guilty due to insanity.[1] He spent time in a series of mental hospitals, being released in 1975. He would act out frequently while in the hospitals, leading to him being restrained and injected with thorazine.[1][2] He began spending time in saloons like Club 596 and Sunbrite that were hangouts for the Westies.[2]
The Westies
Featherstone's penchant for violence and intimidation caught the eye of Coonan and Featherstone became Coonan's right-hand man by 1976.[4]Mickey Spillane, the mob leader in Hell's Kitchen at the time, was shot five times outside his apartment in August 1977, and Featherstone was arrested but acquitted for his killing.[2] The police suspected him of a series of mob contract killings. He went on trial with Coonan for the killing of a barman, but they were acquitted in December 1979 after one witness killed himself and another refused to testify.[2] His conviction eventually came in February 1982, after using counterfeit currency at a massage parlor - he was traced because the girl remembered seeing his name tattooed on his forearm, and he was sentenced to six years.[2] Featherstone did time in the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield Missouri on the psychiatric ward in 1982. He was a model prisoner, seen daily picking fine lint off of his perfectly made bunk to pass inspection, and starting arguments with others for not polishing their door frame brass. The institution kept Featherstone working on the ward, out of General Population, for his own safety.
Featherstone and Coonan had a falling out over the latter's alliance with the Gambino crime family, which Featherstone saw as a betrayal of all the Irish-Americans in Hell's Kitchen.[4]
Turning informer
Featherstone was convicted in March 1986 for the April 1985 murder of Michael Holly, despite being innocent of this particular murder, which was a revenge attack probably carried out by another of the Westies, Billy Bokun.[1] He was shocked at receiving his sentence of 25 years in prison, and concluded that he had been framed by his own gang.[1] Rather than serving his sentence he instead told prosecutors that Bokun had committed the murder, and he became an informant.[1][5] His wife Sissy co-operated with the District Attorney's office to tape incriminating conversations with gang members, including Bokun.[1] In September 1986, Judge Alvin Schlesinger overturned Featherstone's conviction.[1] His testimony at Coonan's racketeering trial during 1987–88 helped to bring down Coonan's gang.[4] He pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge and received a suspended sentence of five years' probation from Judge Robert W. Sweet due to his cooperation with the authorities.[5] He was freed in December 1988[5] and went into a witness protection program.[5]
References
^ abcdefghijkTraub, James (5 April 1987). "The Lords of Hell's Kitchen". New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
^ abcdefghiDaly, Michael; John Hamill (12 April 1982). "The Ghosts of Hell's Kitchen". New York Magazine. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
^ abRaab, Selwyn (16 April 1990). "Books of The Times; The Rise and Fall of a Thoroughly Vicious Gang". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
^ abcdBain, David Haward (8 April 1990). "New York Stories: Hell's Kitchen Killers". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
^ abcdLubasch, Arnold H. (1 January 1989). "Admitted Westies Killer Who Informed Is Free". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
Further reading
Davis, John H. Mafia Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the Gambino Crime Family. New York: HarperCollins, 1993.
_____. Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 2005. ISBN0-06-059003-3
Mustaine, Gene. Murder Machine. Onyx Books, 1993
March 14, 2023
mickey, featherstone, francis, mickey, featherstone, born, september, 1948, former, irish, american, mobster, member, westies, organized, crime, syndicate, from, hell, kitchen, manhattan, york, city, james, coonan, featherstone, committed, several, killings, b. Francis T Mickey Featherstone born September 2 1948 is a former Irish American mobster and member of the Westies an organized crime syndicate from Hell s Kitchen Manhattan in New York City led by James Coonan Featherstone committed several mob killings before he was convicted in 1986 of a murder he had not committed Facing almost 25 years in jail he became an informant and brought down Coonan s gang Francis T FeatherstoneBornFrancis T Featherstone 1948 09 02 September 2 1948 age 74 Manhattan New York City New York U S NationalityAmericanOther namesMickeyOccupationMobsterCriminal statusParoledAllegianceWestiesMotiveOrganized crimeCriminal chargeMurder racketeeringPenaltyFive years probationDetailsSpan of crimes1971 1986CountryUSAState s New YorkDate apprehended1986 Contents 1 Early life 2 Return to Hell s Kitchen 3 The Westies 3 1 Turning informer 4 References 5 Further readingEarly life EditFeatherstone was born on West 43rd St 1 one of nine children 2 His mother helped with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and his father was a United States Customs Service officer 2 He had blond hair and was often said to be baby faced 1 He served in the Vietnam War as member of the Green Berets aged just 17 after lying about his age 1 He served in heavy combat and then as a stock clerk 3 To his disappointment he was pulled from combat duty he was involved in criminal mischief with his friends and was disciplined for many drunken pranks 3 4 He received a medical discharge in 1967 after just a year claiming to have hallucinations 1 2 Return to Hell s Kitchen EditWhen a group from New Jersey called the Riley brothers entered Hell s Kitchen a fight started with the outsiders Featherstone returned with a rifle and shot one of the brothers John Riley in the arm for which he was arrested and probationed 2 After borrowing Coonan s gun he shot dead Linwood Willis in a confrontation outside a bar in 1971 but was found not guilty due to insanity 1 He spent time in a series of mental hospitals being released in 1975 He would act out frequently while in the hospitals leading to him being restrained and injected with thorazine 1 2 He began spending time in saloons like Club 596 and Sunbrite that were hangouts for the Westies 2 The Westies EditFeatherstone s penchant for violence and intimidation caught the eye of Coonan and Featherstone became Coonan s right hand man by 1976 4 Mickey Spillane the mob leader in Hell s Kitchen at the time was shot five times outside his apartment in August 1977 and Featherstone was arrested but acquitted for his killing 2 The police suspected him of a series of mob contract killings He went on trial with Coonan for the killing of a barman but they were acquitted in December 1979 after one witness killed himself and another refused to testify 2 His conviction eventually came in February 1982 after using counterfeit currency at a massage parlor he was traced because the girl remembered seeing his name tattooed on his forearm and he was sentenced to six years 2 Featherstone did time in the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield Missouri on the psychiatric ward in 1982 He was a model prisoner seen daily picking fine lint off of his perfectly made bunk to pass inspection and starting arguments with others for not polishing their door frame brass The institution kept Featherstone working on the ward out of General Population for his own safety Featherstone and Coonan had a falling out over the latter s alliance with the Gambino crime family which Featherstone saw as a betrayal of all the Irish Americans in Hell s Kitchen 4 Turning informer Edit Featherstone was convicted in March 1986 for the April 1985 murder of Michael Holly despite being innocent of this particular murder which was a revenge attack probably carried out by another of the Westies Billy Bokun 1 He was shocked at receiving his sentence of 25 years in prison and concluded that he had been framed by his own gang 1 Rather than serving his sentence he instead told prosecutors that Bokun had committed the murder and he became an informant 1 5 His wife Sissy co operated with the District Attorney s office to tape incriminating conversations with gang members including Bokun 1 In September 1986 Judge Alvin Schlesinger overturned Featherstone s conviction 1 His testimony at Coonan s racketeering trial during 1987 88 helped to bring down Coonan s gang 4 He pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge and received a suspended sentence of five years probation from Judge Robert W Sweet due to his cooperation with the authorities 5 He was freed in December 1988 5 and went into a witness protection program 5 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Traub James 5 April 1987 The Lords of Hell s Kitchen New York Times Retrieved 31 March 2021 a b c d e f g h i Daly Michael John Hamill 12 April 1982 The Ghosts of Hell s Kitchen New York Magazine Retrieved 11 January 2011 a b Raab Selwyn 16 April 1990 Books of The Times The Rise and Fall of a Thoroughly Vicious Gang The New York Times Retrieved 31 March 2021 a b c d Bain David Haward 8 April 1990 New York Stories Hell s Kitchen Killers The New York Times Retrieved 31 March 2021 a b c d Lubasch Arnold H 1 January 1989 Admitted Westies Killer Who Informed Is Free The New York Times Retrieved 31 March 2021 Further reading EditDavis John H Mafia Dynasty The Rise and Fall of the Gambino Crime Family New York HarperCollins 1993 English T J The Westies St Martin s Paperbacks 1991 ISBN 0 312 92429 1 Paddy Whacked The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster New York HarperCollins Publishers Inc 2005 ISBN 0 06 059003 3 Mustaine Gene Murder Machine Onyx Books 1993 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mickey Featherstone amp oldid 1082198232, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
